Improvement in spring-hooks for check-reins



J ANNIN. Spring-Hook for Check-Reins.

No. 209,850. Patented Nov. 12, 1878.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES ANNIN, OF LE ROY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-HOOKSFOR CHECK-REINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,850, dated November 12, 1878; application filed April 27, 1878.

This invention relates to that class of de-- vices used upon the harness of horses for the purpose of retaining the check-rein in position, and usually called a check-hook, the object of the invention being to relieve the muscles of the horses neck of the great fatigue caused by using an unyielding check-hook.

Many devices have been invented to accomplish this result, among which may be enumerated elastic check-reins of various kinds and a sliding check-hook drawn back by a spring coiled around its slide, all of which have failed to come into general use from the fact that they were lacking in simplicity of construction or durability.

The present invention consists in forming the check-hook of a spirally-coiled spring, which is secured at one end to the saddle of the harness, and provided with a sliding hook, to which the check-rein is attached, all being constructed and arranged as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the spring-hook, rein-hook, and saddle, towhich they are attached. Fig. 2 is a front View of the same. Fig. 31s a side view of the spring-hook extended, together with a sectional View of the saddle, showing the manner of attaching the spring-hook to it.

The harness-saddle is constructed in the ordinary manner, and is represented in the drawings by the letter A. To the front side of this saddle is attached, by means of the screwbolt a and metal loop I), a spring-hook, B, composed of one or more spirally-coiled steelspring plates, and provided at the extremity farthest from the saddle with a cross-piece, d, which prevents the rein-hook (J from slipping off the end of the spring-hook when the latter is uncoiled. A friction roller or rollers, c, to act upon the plate of the coiled spring, and pivoted between the jaws of the rein-hook, relieves it from excessive friction upon the plate of the coiled spring when drawn out. It will be apparent that when the check-rein is attached to the hook O a limited movement will be allowed the horses head, sufficient to rehere the muscles of his neck from undue strain, while the check-rein will always be taut and in its proper position with relation to the other parts of the harness.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. The coiled spring-hook B, formed with one or more spring-plates, and provided with a cross-piece, d, at its extremity, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The saddle A, in combination with the spring-hook B, provided with end cross-piece cl and loop I), substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the saddle A, coiled spring-hook B, and rein-hook (1, provided with friction-roller 0,1"01 the purpose of retaining a cheek-rein in position, as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ANNIN. Witnesses:

E. P. HALBERT, I. F. WOODWARD. 

